video screenshotFBI informant Solomon Dwek returned to the witness stand in the federal corruption trial of former state Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt. Hidden camera video footage shows Van Pelt accepting an envelope of cash that a government witness said was a bribe.
OCEAN COUNTY -- Jurors in the federal corruption trial of former state Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt watched video tape this morning of the ex-lawmaker accepting an envelope of cash that a government witness said was a bribe.

"Well, I want to, ah, you know, get you on my team,’’ Solomon Dwek is heard telling Van Pelt.

As paper is rustling and a white envelope appears in front of the camera, Dwek tells Van Pelt, "Little something to start.’’

On the secretly recorded video tape, Van Pelt is seen accepting the envelope and says, "Well, I’ll hold onto it, but I don’t know what I’m going to do with it.’’

The tape, one of six audio and video recordings played for jurors this morning, is the government’s key evidence against Van Pelt, a former mayor and committeeman in Ocean Township, Ocean County, who is charged with bribery and extortion.

As Dwek continued his testimony in Van Pelt’s trial in U.S. District Court in Trenton, he and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig dissected snippets of the recordings. On the tapes, Dwek makes what the prosecution contends are veiled references to bribes in return for Van Pelt helping to expedite state and local permits for a development project in Ocean Township.

Secret video camera captures assemblyman Van Pelt accepting an envelope of cash FBI informant Solomon Dwek returned to the witness stand in the federal corruption trial of former state Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt. Hidden camera video footage shows Van Pelt accepting an envelope of cash that a government witness said was a bribe. The recording, one of several video and audio recordings, played for jurors is the government’s key evidence against Van Pelt, a former mayor and committeeman in Ocean Township, Ocean County, who is charged with bribery and extortion. The handoff is seen at the 1:14 mark.

On the tapes, Van Pelt is equally cryptic and several times asked Dwek — whom he knew as fictitious developer David Esenbach — how he could be of help on the project.

Van Pelt’s defense attorney, Robert Fuggi Jr., insists the cash was a payment for his client doing development consulting work for Esenbach.

Dwek, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud and misconduct, told jurors he first met Van Pelt in the law offices of Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore on Dec. 4, 2008.

In that meeting, Van Pelt, Dwek, Gilmore and former Ocean County Democratic Chairman Alfonso Santoro discuss Dwek’s supposed interest in developing a parcel in Ocean Township.

Santoro pleaded guilty in December to violating the federal Travel Act by taking two bribes from Dwek. Dwek said he paid Santoro to introduce him to other public officials who might accept bribes to help him with development projects.

Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, and Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt are led into FBI building in Newark

Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega, Jersey City Deputy Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini and Jersey City council president Mariano Vega are led into the FBI building in Newark this morning as part of an ongoing corruption probe by the FBI. (Video by Michael Monday/The Star-Ledger)